New Zealand ShakeOut

Whakahaumaru Aotearoa

New Zealand ShakeOut is our national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi.

ShakeOut 2024 is happening Thursday 24 October!

What is New Zealand ShakeOut and tsunami hīkoi?

ShakeOut takes place across the world to remind people of the right action to take during an earthquake. Drop, Cover and Hold. You can also practice a tsunami hīkoi (evacuation walk) if you’re in a coastal area.

All of New Zealand is at risk of earthquakes and all of our coastline is at risk of tsunami. We can’t predict when they will happen, but we can practise the right action to protect ourselves.

Taking part in ShakeOut is a great way for everyone at your centre to learn the right actions to take before, during and after an earthquake and practise your tsunami hīkoi (evacuation walk) if you are in a coastal area.

Over the last decade, hundreds and thousands of kiwis have come together to Drop, Cover, Hold and practice their tsunami hīkoi routes. Regularly practising the correct actions to take in an earthquake or tsunami is an important step in getting prepared.

Once you’ve confirmed your registration, the ShakeOut team will send you information on how to get prepared, and how to run your ShakeOut drill.

How to ShakeOut

  1. Sign up now at www.shakeout.govt.nz. You can register everyone in your centre in two minutes.
  2. Spread the word (tell family, friends, your community, and share on social media) using resources on www.shakeout.govt.nz. The resources are also available in Te Reo Māori and other languages. 
  3. Drop, Cover and Hold at 9.30am* on 24 October 2024,  followed by your tsunami hīkoi if you’re in a coastal area.

(* If you cannot do the drill at 9.30am on 24 October 2024, you can choose a time to suit you within two weeks of the drill and still be counted).

Use this New Zealand ShakeOut audio announcement to start your earthquake drill. Play it through a speaker or PA so everyone knows the correct action to take.  NZ ShakeOut Drill Announcement recording (.mps 1.9mb)

Taking it further

New Zealand ShakeOut is a great opportunity for you to check your centre’s preparedness plans and practice what to do during and after an earthquake.

There is information developed specifically to teach young children about what to do in an earthquake on our website. Check it out at www.getready.govt.nz 

More information

Information and resources are available on the Ministry of Education website to help your centre prepare for and deal with a natural hazard, pandemic or traumatic event. Visit www.education.govt.nz

For more information about ShakeOut, check out www.shakeout.govt.nz or email the ShakeOut team at [email protected]

 

Check out the Get Ready website to find out what to do before, during and after an emergency. 

New Zealand ShakeOut is proudly co-sponsored by Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake

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